Training Log Archive: TomN

QOC Wheaton Red. Florence was directing and we got there early, set up numerous tent canopies acquired yesterday against the predicted all-day rain, put out signs, checked in with course setter Mihai, and got the first starts off on time.

I went out probably around 11. It was raining at the beginning, tapering off during the run. Wet in the woods, but I stopped noticing after the first couple of controls. A fast course, with easy control picking and a lot of trail running. The mistake I most often heard from others was not staying on the trail enough and trying to go straight through the woods. The woods were dense, full of little whippy branches and a few prickers.

I kept up a good pace but lost time due mostly to inattention, sometimes to drifting off course. From 1 to 2 I got started down the trail next to the lake, but forgot what I was doing and rounded the corner towards 3, then had to backtrack. From 9 to 10 I crossed the southern bridge but thought I was at the northern one, losing some time figuring it out. Leaving 10 I went towards 6 instead of 11. All little stuff, but added up to 5-6 minutes lost that could easily have been avoided.

Picked up the 4 controls that didn't really fit into any of the other zones. One water stop, which I drove around to, salvaging 2 unopened bottles and a bag of cups.

Red - Splits

A run around the neighborhood. Spent the morning rounding up tents for the meet tomorrow, given the forecast of 100% chance of rain. The afternoon will be devoted to various medical appointments (daughter's, not mine).

Around the GSFC perimeter road. Dirt road was soft, but not really wet. Good footing. And a nice day, 50s, a little breeze.

Hey, a road run, after a long time. A conspiracy of illness, bad weather, and muscle soreness has finally been broken up.

Picking up controls. I really bottomed out in the blood-sugar department during this effort. I had eaten a little bit after finishing the Green course, but it either wasn't enough or wasn't timed right. Felt fine after some hot cocoa on getting back with the controls.

QOC Patapsco-Glen Artney Green. Hey, we finally got a good day for this, after having to postpone it twice due to winter crud. I really enjoyed being out in the snow and the sun this afternoon. It reminded me of spring skiing. It was pretty hard going in some places, post-holing and breaking trail where no one had been, wading through slop near the controls.

I had a pretty good run, but couldn't get up any speed. With one major mistake, punching the wrong control at #1. The right control was about 30m away, but I didn't check the code.

Green - Splits